Notably, elevated expression of HOXC6 was closely linked to T stage (P < 0.001), lymph node metastasis (P = 0.014), neoplasm type (P < 0.001), TP53 status (P = 0.002), BRAF status (P < 0.001), and age (P = 0.038) but not with sex, CEA level, history of colon polyps, KRAS status, presence of colon polyps, distant metastasis, or pathological stage (all P > 0.05) (Table 1). Here, KRAS is linked to metastatic malignant neoplasm in the lymph nodes.